Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

The Physical Therapist provides clinical physical therapy evaluation and treatment plans for program participants 55 and older, on an acute restorative or maintenance level as needed. They are responsible for integrating physical therapy treatment plans into the Plan of Care (POC) as directed by the physician orders. All participant care provided is in accordance with applicable InnovAge policies and state regulations.

Responsibilities include screening and evaluating participants for rehabilitation needs of acute, restorative or maintenance levels and following the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) code of ethics in daily practice. They collaborate with nursing home and assisted living staff regarding the rehabilitation needs of InnovAge participants, refer participants to Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech Therapy (ST) with team approval, and refer participants to medical clinic when condition warrants it and document changes in the POC.

They communicate with staff regarding participants' needs in areas of positioning, mobility, and safety both verbally and in writing when necessary. They communicate with family members and caregiver(s) in an organized and understandable fashion and ensure that recommendations are feasible for participants and their caregiver(s) to follow. They provide physical therapy treatment including modality treatment, therapeutic exercise, and functional mobility training. They provide written instructions and illustrations to participants and caregiver(s) as needed.

They ensure that participant's and/or caregiver(s) understand the DME loan program and policies and that signatures are obtained on the loan agreement. They provide treatment to program participants by delegating therapy plans for specific participants to the Physical Therapist Assistant and Rehab Aide according to the complexity of the participants' needs and the nature of procedures according to the Colorado Physical Therapy Practice Act or other applicable state specific regulations.

They instruct participants and caregiver(s) in the use and maintenance of DME and methods used to enhance the mobility, safety, and functional independence of participants. They make home visits/educational sessions as needed and indicated in the POC, and document activities including participant/caregiver response in participant's chart. They discuss plan of care (POC) with multidisciplinary team to integrate services with overall POC for participant.

They actively participate as a required member of the interdisciplinary team, participate in peer review and QM activities as requested, document all procedures performed in participant's medical chart on a timely basis, utilizing policies and procedures set forth for InnovAge Programs, provide guidance to staff and team members that is consistent with both state law and company policy, order/inventories, distributes, and maintains Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for participants, orient and educate contract physical therapists on InnovAge PACE systems and goals, identify defective DME and take appropriate action to repair or replace items promptly, ensure that DME loans, returns, repairs and purchases are documented in the appropriate records per department policies and on a timely basis by staff, make purchases appropriate for participants and rehab operations within established department budget and goals, solicit ideas from staff for ongoing improvement in the efficient functioning of the rehab department, provide remedial training of non-rehab staff, such as CNA's and Drivers, in relation to specific participant needs, and participate within the interdisciplinary team in the formulation of Plans of Care for InnovAge PACE program participants, as well as in other interdisciplinary team settings that plan, coordinate and monitor the care of InnovAge PACE program participants.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy, completion of a physical therapy program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association or other equivalent organization approved by CMS, active Physical Therapist license issued by state in which practicing, a minimum of one year experience working with the frail or elderly.

Preferred Qualifications

2+ years as a practicing PT, Master's Degree (MSPT) or Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), bilingual a plus.